• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Ship-to-Shore Connectivity Provides Support to Fleet

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090609-11
Release Date: 6/9/2009 5:11:00 PM

By Heather Paynter, Fleet and Industrial Supply Center San Diego Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Personnel at the Integrated Logistics Overhaul (ILO) site provide storage and logistics functions to ships needing the temporary space. Personnel are currently assisting USS Mobile Bay (CG 53)in preparation for an availability period scheduled to begin June 17.

A recently implemented ship-to-shore connectivity design module at Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) San Diego has eased the process of tracking ship's inventory during an overhaul.

Equipped with correlating numbered bins and mock storage areas designed to resemble individual ship's storage areas, the ILO site provides a familiar working space while processing and sorting fleet inventory. Ships' storekeepers (SKs) are assigned to the warehouse to post inventories and receive and issue material during the overhaul period, which generally lasts several months. Because of the connectivity ability currently available, SKs are able to receive and issue in a real-time environment without having to return to document inventory at the site where the ship is located.

Prior to the system adopting this integrated supply management program, notations and tracking were completed by hand and with notes-to-self before the individual's return to the ship for inputting into the ship's system. The current program allows Sailors to input data right at the ILO site through a supply program that connects to the ship's system and updates inventory in real time. Efficiency and accuracy are increased and man hours are saved, freeing time for other duties.

ILO military liaison Chief Storekeeper (SW/AW) Denis Paule has a sense of the enormity involved in tracking prolific amounts of ship parts, manuals and other inventory.

"I have been through this process and I know, as a young Sailor, I would have appreciated having this system to work with," said the 12-year Navy veteran.

In April 2008, Commanding Officer, FISC San Diego Capt. Glenn Robillard requested that personnel from the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC), FISC San Diego, look into easing the inventory management process for ships undergoing an availability. After tests using USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), the first ship-to-shore connectivity availability took place in December 2008 with USS Princeton (CG 59). USS Germantown (LSD 42) was the next ship in ILO that was able to take advantage of the new connectivity process. USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) is now set to begin its availability.

"It not only improves inventory management and accuracy, it saves enormous amounts of time for the ships' Sailors working with the FISC," Robillard said. "The ship and its Sailors are the real benefactors of this effort."

Coordinator Lorie Horton researched the connectivity implementation in the spring of 2008. Through many hours of research and testing, and with the assistance of the Naval Sea Logistics Center, a system was implemented that was tailored to meet the needs of ships at Naval Base San Diego. Throughout the process, Horton has witnessed the advantages related to its implementation.

"The ability to receive the material as it arrives, processing receipts on the spot and real-time inventory updating with the ship are now available," she said. "Additionally there is the ability to immediately find and document material locations and material issue."

To ease Sailors into the process, Horton and Paule give training classes to new users and provide desktop guides with computer screen captures and step-by-step instructions. Both also assist supply departments with setting up their initial connection onboard the ship.

"I expect this to become the model for similar ILO operations across the Navy Enterprise," Robillard said. "It is also another great example of how we can use existing technology to accomplish distance support."

For more news from Fleet and Industrial Supply Center San Diego, visit www.navy.mil/local/fiscsd/.